Ms. Ruth Annette Kendall

Sunrise Ruth Annette (Owens), Gunter, Kendall was the eldest child of Salvador E Owens and Ruth Marie (Childs) Owens born in Guthrie, OK May 14th, 1946. A Beautiful Life Although the oldest of Salvador and Ruth’s eight children, she was always the smallest and due to her petite stature, was given the nickname “The Bone” by her dear sister Jaqueline. With her mother Ruth's guidance and four sisters and three brothers to help take care of, Annette excelled in all manners of homemaking, including cooking, sewing and especially cleaning. Something that anyone who visited any of her homes could attest to. She also excelled in academics attending elementary schools in Oklahoma City and Guthrie before the family relocated to Dover, OK where she enjoyed many extracurricular activities and would graduate on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll in 1964. After High school, her pursuit of higher education would take her to Panhandle State A&M University in Goodwell, OK where she was one of the first African American women to attend along with her future brother-in-law Henry Lorenzo Caldwell and his sister JoAnn Caldwell. Her academic pursuits would be put on hold when she met and married Howard Allen Gunter in 1966. From that union, would come her three sons, Jeffrey Lamar, Brian Marcel and Allen Gene Gunter. The young family primarily lived in Enid and Garber OK for several years. During this time, Annette worked in secretarial positions with the Enid Board of Education and prestigious companies like Singer Steel before landing a job with then Southwestern Bell in 1984. The family were regular attendees and members of the Worldwide Church of God. Annette was always active with the churches she attended. From singing in choirs, volunteering or being a prayer warrior, her church families were always near and dear to her heart and she could often be found “laying down”, which is the act of talking and fellowshipping so long after services, she would literally have to lay down to continue the conversations. A transfer with Southwestern Bell from Enid to Oklahoma City landed the family in Yukon, OK and eventually to her final home in Oklahoma City. Not being one to rest on her laurels, Annette, like her mother before her, went back to school later in life earning her bachelor’s in business studies degree from Dallas Baptist University in 2002 at the age of 56. Retirement from AT&T would come in 2015 after 30-plus years of service. Of all her amazing accomplishments, she was most proud of her grandchildren. Known to them all simply as “Grandma”, her grandchildren brought her so much joy and she took pride in their achievements. Sunset Annette passed peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, in Owasso OK. She was preceded in death by both parents and sisters Jaqueline Caldwell and Gayle Owens Johnson. She is survived by her three boys and grandchildren. Jeffrey Gunter of Oklahoma City and David Woodard (Mother Tracey Thompson). Brian and Andi Gunter of Owasso OK. Shaylee, Chazz, and Izzy as well as great-grandson Rylan Gunter. Allen and Charissa (Clear) Gunter of Oklahoma City with Austin and Alex George (mother Ariana Hendricks), Alissa Gunter, Octavia Turner (Mother Tammy Walenciak), Alana and Asia Gunter as well as great-grandson Liam George. She is also survived by brothers Michael Owens of Norman OK, Anthony Owens of Oklahoma City OK., and David Owens of Los Angeles CA. Sisters Debra Owens of Oklahoma City, OK, and Carol Winters of Dallas TX as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. To know Annette was to love Annette. The countless lives she impacted with her sweet, kind, loving spirit cannot be measured and she will surely be missed by all who had the distinct pleasure of knowing her. May she rest in peace forevermore.

Ms. Ruth Annette Kendall

May 14, 1952 - April 30, 2024

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Ms. Ruth Annette Kendall

May 14, 1952 - April 30, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support